Harmonica Blues

“Harmonica Blues” celebrates forty years since Bob Corritore first picked up a harp. He maximized his early proximity to the 1970s Chicago blues scene, befriending and learning from masters Louis Myers, Eddie Taylor, Robert Lockwood, Jr., Little Willie Anderson, Big Leon Brooks, Lester Davenport, Big Smokey Smothers, Little Mack Simmons, and others. Since relocating to Phoenix, Arizona in 1981, Bob has been prolific as a player, producer, radio personality since ‘84, and owner of the renowned Rhythm Room with which he’s been associated for nineteen years now. In 1999 his debut CD “All-Star Blues Sessions” was issued, an impressive selection of his productions and his own playing. Two years later the anthology “Rhythm Room Blues” confirmed his taste and the quality of his associates. Since the release of “All-Star Blues Sessions,” Bob has built on that illustrious foundation, contributing his authoritative harp to about forty releases, he has partnered with Mississippi native Dave Riley for two highly praised CDs, “Travelin’ the Dirt Road” and “Lucky to Be Living,” and it is now routine to find him on European stages or profiled in blues magazines worldwide.

Now the hard work, dedication, love and talent through which Bob has built a remarkable life and career in the Blues are brought to bear on “Harmonica Blues,” fifteen diverse but uniformly rewarding tracks featuring his harp and production, and a virtual who’s who of traditional blues recorded between 1989 and 2009. A listen, or just a glance at the credits, makes it clear how well Bob is able to recruit stellar blues players, then combine and accompany them in ways that bring the best out of the featured artist. Lockwood’s emphatic and only recording of “That’s All Right,” the blues classic which he reputedly wrote, is a historic and musical highlight. Koko Taylor, Eddie Shaw, Eddy Clearwater, Henry Gray, Pinetop Perkins, Honeyboy Edwards and Little Milton are other leaders with deep Chicago roots, while Eddie Taylor Jr., Bob Stroger, Willie “Big Eyes” Smith, Chico Chism, Chris James, Patrick Rynn, Bob Riedy and Jon Hiller contribute as sidemen. But “Harmonica Blues” encompasses far more than Bob’s Chicago background, thanks to the likes of Louisiana Red, Dave Riley, Nappy Brown, Big Pete Pearson, Tomcat Courtney, Chief Schiabutte Gilliame and Carol Fran, and accompanists including Bob Margolin, Kid Ramos, Buddy Reed, David Maxwell and others including some Rhythm Room stalwarts.

Bob Corritore has shown over the past four decades that he is about teamwork and that he is seemingly out to help every blues artist blessed to know him. His own name and career have not been the priority. But “Harmonica Blues” is one more in a growing list of monuments to a legacy which should bring as much pride to Bob, as it does joy to the listener.